Featured
Joy-filled easter celebration at JOALI Maldives
In celebration of the Easter weekend, JOALI Maldives has announced its jampacked schedule of activities between the 6th – 12th April 2023.
An ideal multi-generational family holiday destination, JOALI Maldives comprises 73 elegant and private beach and over-water villas and residences, all impeccably designed and able to cater for families of all sizes with 2, 3 and one 4-bedroom villa available.
Guests of all ages can discover endless opportunities for spectacular adventure, creativity, exhilaration and indulgence on “the Island of Joy”, with a specially curated week-long calendar to suit all interests.
Easter-themed Family Fun
Unique and Easter-inspired experiences will be available for children at the Muramas Kids Club, with parents welcome to join in the seasonal fun. To start the day on a sweet note, children can bake and decorate their own bunny-shaped cinnamon rolls before enjoying plenty of Easter-themed games; such as “hop and pop”, a bunny run, and of course island egg hunts. Arts and crafts will include egg painting, making toy bunnies out of socks, Easter wreath making using Maldivian flowers, Easter-themed face painting, cotton wall bunny crafting, and bunny mask painting.
Tailor-made Easter egg treasure hunts are available for the whole family to participate in throughout the Easter celebrations.
Culinary Creations
To help create an unforgettable holiday experience this Easter, JOALI Maldives will be hosting indulgent culinary feasts at Vandhoo and Bellini’s; Levant-inspired TUH’U restaurant; and at Saoke, with Executive Chef Yamamoto on island to host specially curated menus at the overwater Japanese restaurant. Easter Sunday will begin with an extravagant beachside brunch, followed by a sunset cocktail reception and evening feast for all.
Guests staying at JOALI Maldives over the Easter period can participate in gastronomic experiences with sushi-making classes at Saoke, Chef-led garden tours and salad making sessions, and evening mixology masterclasses. Children can also enjoy a Junior Teppanyaki experience at Saoke, as well as “Little Chef” cooking classes and junior juice mixology.
Art Workshops
Located within JOALI’s own Art Studio and led by the resort’s Resident Artist, Nataliya Kuleshova, this Easter guests can take part in private ceramic art classes; including ceramic painting, ceramic creation workshops, and ceramic glazing.
As the Maldives’ first and only immersive art resort, guests can use their own art-map to explore the island’s interactive art trail. From sculptures to paintings to tapestry to clothing pieces, created in collaboration with international artists and local artisans, JOALI’s art pieces aim to promote messaging around sustainability, nature and community to its guests.
Marine Life Magic
Throughout Easter, guests at JOALI Maldives can enjoy private speedboat trips for scuba-diving, Big Game fishing, sunset cruises, turtle snorkelling trips and dolphin quests.
Closer to shore, guests can enjoy jet ski rides, parasailing, glass-bottom kayaking, paddleboarding, semi-submarine tours, and sea-bob adventures. Budding Marine Biologists can join JOALI’s Marine Biology team for guided snorkelling and to help plant coral fragments onto the house reef’s growing coral nursery.
Dry on land, JOALI’s Resident Marine Biology team will be hosting regular educational talks on ocean conservation, aimed at both adults and children.
Active Adventure
Home to stellar court facilities, guests looking to participate in some festive team sports can join in on games of tennis and padel, as well as a competitive football championship cup. Master Sifu Aniket, a visiting Kung Fu Black Belt champion, will be on the island throughout Easter to offer guests of all ages and abilities both private and group classes in Kung Fu, martial arts, and kickboxing.
Mindfulness and Wellbeing
At JOALI’s ESPA Spa, guests can start the Easter celebrations with an awakening yoga flow, a family-beach yoga session, or Yin yoga at the spa’s scenic overwater yoga pavilion. Connecting with their inner selves, guests can end their day in pure relaxation with crystal bowl meditation and Full Moon bonfire meditation sessions at the spa’s beautiful beach area.
Imagi-Nature Art Festival – 14-18th April
For guests wishing to extend their stay beyond the Easter weekend, from the 14th to 18th April 2023, JOALI Maldives will host the Imagi-Nature Art Festival in collaboration with International Art Consultant, Tatiana Gecmen-Waldek. This innovative project, which harmoniously blends art and messaging of sustainability, offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in unique creative collaborations with celebrated artists from around the world. With the festival taking place over World Art Day on the 15th April, Tatiana has collaborated with JOALI to bring an extraordinary selection of contemporary art to the resort, in the form of exhibitions, artistic performances, and the unveiling of brand-new permanent installations.
Amid the abundant life between the palm trees and sparkling turquoise water sits JOALI Maldives, the very first art-immersive resort in the Maldives. Based on Raa Atoll, one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, guests can expect brilliant blue waters, a myriad of sea life, and pristine white-sand beaches fringed by gently swaying coconut palms. Each of the 73 villas is the epitome of sustainable glamour and was inspired by individual stories and designed to take the guests on a rich sensory journey. Boasting a lavish range of culinary options, every dish at JOALI, tells a story and every plate becomes a journey, a journey of savours, fragrance, and joy – an art immersive experiential dining. Artisanal amenities, curated in-room bookshelves, thoughtful design and deluxe objects d’art creates an atmosphere of unconventional luxury on the island of joy. Central to the JOALI offering is its exceptional array of art and design which pervades all areas of the resort, while at its epicentre is the JOALI Art Studio & Gallery. A selection of international guest artists will exhibit installations to surprise and delight including London-based Glithero and New York-based Misha Kahn, often working with local artisans to intersect design and sculpture.
Rates: This Easter, JOALI Maldives has villas from $3,300 (approx. £2,780) per night based on two sharing a Beach Villa with Pool on a B&B basis. For further details and booking, please visit www.joali.com
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has introduced an exciting new activity for ocean enthusiasts: Conservation Snorkelling. Led by the resort’s resident marine biologist, Mohamed Shah, this immersive experience allows participants to contribute to marine conservation efforts while exploring the vibrant underwater ecosystem of the Maldives. Combining education, exploration, and action, the initiative offers an enriching opportunity for visitors of all ages.
Participants engage in collecting critical data on coral health and fish populations using underwater fish guides, coral health charts, and writing slates, while learning to identify various fish species. They assess reef conditions and contribute to the protection of the local marine environment. The findings are then discussed with Mohamed Shah, providing deeper insights into the marine life of the Iru Fushi lagoon and house reef.
This activity is a key component of Sun Siyam Cares, the resort’s initiative focused on environmental protection and community support. Families, young couples, and other guests can participate in global conservation efforts through the Coral Watch citizen science project. The activity is open to strong swimmers aged eight and above who feel comfortable snorkelling.
“At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, we strive to protect the stunning natural environment around us,” said Abdullah Atham, Resort Manager. “Through activities like Conservation Snorkelling, we encourage guests to explore and actively contribute to ocean conservation.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced its Vignette Collection brand to the Maldives with the addition of Noku Maldives, joining the rapidly expanding group of unique hotels in unforgettable destinations.
Shahid Hussain, General Manager of Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection, shared, “We are excited to reintroduce Noku Maldives to our guests, as it now debuts as IHG’s first Vignette Collection resort here in the Maldives. At Vignette Collection, we are proud to be a luxury and lifestyle brand dedicated to curating highly personalised experiences. With genuine warmth and thoughtful attention to detail, we create unforgettable moments leading to one-of-a-kind stays.”
Situated amidst the stunning waters of Noonu Atoll, Noku Maldives offers the perfect sanctuary for escaping the world. The resort features 50 modern private villas, each with its private pool, scattered across the island. Guests are greeted by the soft, powdery sands of the resort’s private beach or can relax in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean.
The resort boasts three restaurants and a bar, including Thari Restaurant offering Asian cuisine, The Palms Bar serving expertly crafted cocktails that blend Eastern and Western influences, and Palms Restaurant for all-day dining. Noku Spa provides wellness programming focused on natural ingredients to enhance overall wellbeing.
Vignette Collection combines each property’s distinct identity with the brand’s collective vision, offering a more authentic travel experience. While each property is unique, they are unified through key hallmarks such as Memorable Rituals and ‘A Means For Good.’ Memorable Rituals, bespoke to each Vignette Collection property, connect guests with the hotel’s identity, locality, and cultural landscape. At Noku Maldives, guests are invited to partake in the Celestial Turtle Ritual, a stargazing experience inspired by the ancient Maldivian art of astronavigation.
Means For Good initiatives are embedded throughout all Vignette Collection properties, reflecting each hotel’s commitment to responsibility, community engagement, and local culture. These initiatives will be introduced at Noku Maldives in 2025.
Just three years after its launch, Vignette Collection has surpassed the halfway mark toward its goal of reaching 100 open and pipeline hotels within 10 years. With 19 Vignette Collection hotels currently open globally and an additional 34 in the pipeline, the brand is set to debut in markets such as Japan and China.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, Angsana Velavaru invites guests to celebrate the Year of the Snake with a curated two-day experience blending tradition, adventure, and festive spirit. On January 28-29, the resort will host a series of unique activities and exclusive culinary offerings to honour the season’s spirit while immersing visitors in its vibrant atmosphere.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, attendees can participate in a hands-on Dumpling Workshop at Kaani Restaurant. This activity is followed by the ‘Flavours of Asia and Chinese Feast Buffet’, featuring a variety of regional delicacies thoughtfully prepared for the occasion. The evening culminates with the Chunwan New Year’s Eve Gala, an event filled with captivating entertainment that ushers in the new year with unforgettable flair.
For those seeking excitement, the resort provides a range of diving and snorkelling activities suitable for both experts and beginners. Visitors can explore the vibrant house reef through the Citizen Science Snorkelling experience, an initiative that allows participants to contribute to ocean conservation, making their holiday both memorable and meaningful. As night falls, the resort hosts a Caribbean-themed DJ party, where the lively rhythms of the islands set the tone for an energetic evening. A variety of cocktail stations with eclectic drink options further enhances the celebratory atmosphere.
Families are also well catered for, with activities such as friendly Beach Volleyball matches, invigorating Water Aerobics sessions, and a heartwarming Love Bird Feeding experience, ensuring fun-filled moments for guests of all ages.
The first day of the New Year features a Kite Flying Festival—a joyous celebration of the winds, skies, and the endless possibilities of the year ahead. Guests can also embark on a Dolphin Cruise, where serene Maldivian waters meet playful pods of dolphins. For those interested in mixology, the Mojito Mixology Bar at Kuredhi Pool Bar offers an interactive and refreshing take on the classic cocktail. The festivities conclude with a Lunar New Year Banquet at Funa, providing a grand setting for visitors to enjoy a delectable array of dishes, symbolizing prosperity and joy for the year to come.
Angsana Velavaru presents an idyllic setting for an unforgettable Lunar New Year celebration—a serene island retreat where adventure, culture, and tradition converge to create exceptional memories.
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